Global aluminium giant Alcoa hopes to diversify its Western Australian production mix as soon as next year, announcing a plan to enter gallium production in the state’s South West.
Global aluminium giant Alcoa hopes to diversify its Western Australian production mix as soon as next year, announcing a plan to enter gallium production in the state’s South West.
Alcoa has struck a joint development agreement with Japan Australia Gallium Associates – a joint venture of Japan’s Sojitz Corporation and state-owned Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security – to produce gallium at one of Alcoa’s operating WA Alumina refineries.
A market dominated by China, Gallium sits on the critical minerals list in Australia and the US and has been identified as a mineral “important to national security” in Japan.
The metal has defence applications and is used in the manufacture of semiconductors.
Alcoa of Australia president Elsabe Muller said the company was exploring the potential to co-locate a facility to produce gallium as a by-product from its WA alumina operations.
“This opportunity could deliver additional value from our established operations and further demonstrate how Alcoa's longstanding mineral processing capabilities can be significant in supporting state, national and global objectives in technology and national defence,” Ms Muller said.
“We welcome the opportunity to work with the JAGA partners, including Sojitz, who has considerable connection with midstream gallium refiners and manufacturers and would be an offtake customer in the project.”
The plan remains subject to approvals and commercial agreements, but the Japanese entity is targeting a final investment decision this year with production starting next year.
Sojitz metals, resources and recycling divisional chief operating officer Osamu Matsuura said the project had the potential to introduce supply options for semiconductor manufacture in Japan.
Gallium was previously produced in the South West by French company Rhone-Poulenc Chimie near Pinjarra, where short-lived production started in 1989.
But the material has caught the eye of mining majors in recent times as China has tightened its grip on global supply.
Rio Tinto announced a plan to build a demonstration plant in Quebec in December 2024, producing 3.5 tonnes per annum of gallium.
Andrew Forrest-backed Neo Performance Materials recycles semiconductor grade gallium in North America.
Speaking at the Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum this morning, federal Resources Minister Madeleine King welcomed the announcement.
"Gallium is one of the number of critical minerals that have been banned from export form China, and the lack of it is now disrupting supply chains through the globe," she said.
"That is a really welcome development from Alcoa and Sojitz and everyone associated with it."
Alcoa runs alumina refineries at Pinjarra and Wagerup, processing bauxite ore from its Darling Range operations.
